Studies on halophytes from Iran and Afghanistan. II Ecology of halophytes along salt gradients

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Abstract
The halophytic communities of Iran and Afghanistan are rich in species compared with similar communities in S Europe or in N America. Ionic composition and the ion concentrations in the respective habitats characterise the main phytochemical types which develop. Such chemotypes or physiotypes of halophytes are partly correlated with conventional taxonomic units. The various types of halophytes from Iran and Afghanistan were compared and some eco-physiological characteristics are presented. The differences between “stem-halosucculents”, “leaf-halosucculents”, “recreting halophytes”, and types of ‘salt-avoiders” (“pseudohalophytes” and “non-halophytes” or “glycophytes”) are stressed. The ecological implications of the characteristics of these different halophytes, which lead to a typical halo-catena, are discussed.